myMPERS Login with Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Is Here!

On July 21, MPERS launched multifactor authentication (MFA) as added security to the myMPERS login process.

For those unfamiliar with MFA, it is an additional layer of security that requires you to not only provide a username and password, but also complete another step, or factor, in the process. This could be an email, text, or use of an authenticator app on your smartphone.

If you currently have a myMPERS login, you will be asked to complete the MFA process upon your next login.

If you need to create a new account, select "enroll now."

You will have to request an enrollment PIN, which will be mailed to you. Once the PIN is received, you will be able to set up your myMPERS account.

If you need assistance or have questions about the MFA process, please contact a benefit specialist at benefits@mpers.org or 800-270-1271.

The next in-person Pre-Retirement Seminar is coming soon!

If you are a Closed Plan or Year 2000 Plan member and are currently eligible or will be eligible for retirement before December 31, 2027, then this seminar is for you!

Where: Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C Headquarters

When: Wednesday, August 24, 12:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. or

Thursday, August 25, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

How: Register before August 17th in your myMPERS account!

We hope to see you there!

The Missouri Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (MAPERS) annual conference was held July 13-15, 2022, at Osage Beach, MO. MPERS' trustees in attendance receive credit towards required continuing education for MPERS' trustees.

From left to right: Representative Barry Hovis (trustee), Todd Tyler (trustee), Sue Cox (trustee), Colonel Eric Olson (trustee), Bill Seibert (trustee), Ozzie Smith (The Wizard), Jennifer Even (staff), Scott Simon (staff), Matt Morice (trustee), Greta Bassett-Seymour (staff), Larry Krummen (staff).

Retired is a state of being that many in the workforce consider the ultimate goal. Get a job, work, retire.

You spend 20, 30, and even 40 years working with the hopes that one day, you will receive a monthly pension benefit in exchange for your service.

Proper planning and preparation are key to having an enjoyable retirement; the sooner you plan, the better. Author Dave Hughes, “Design Your Dream Retirement,” compiled a list of common retirement regrets. Below is a partial list of regrets, that with proper preparation, you may be able to avoid in retirement.

1.      Neglecting your health. The stress of your 30s and 40s could take its toll on you in your golden years. If you haven’t already, consider adding routine health screenings into your life, get regular physical activity, and monitor your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

2.      Not traveling when you had the chance. Since retirees are no longer constrained by the demand of their daily jobs, many want to take the time to travel and experience the world. This can become much more difficult when health issues and decreased mobility take a front seat in retirement.

3.      Working too long. When meeting with former state employees who have retired, rarely did they say they wished they worked longer. Often, they wish they would’ve retired sooner!

4.      Not planning for how you will spend your time. Once your time is no longer sucked up by the daily grind, how will you spend your free time? After all, most of your time may be considered "free time" after retirement. Ideally, free time will be spent with a mix of physical activity, social contact, mental stimulation, and personal fulfillment.

5.      Not downsizing earlier. Most retirees who choose to declutter their lives, find it quite liberating.

6.      Moving without doing thorough research. Want to move to a warmer climate? Cooler climate? A place that has a cheaper cost of living? Think about taking an extended vacation to your (intended) new city. In some cases, vacation destinations are nice to visit, but a nightmare to live in permanently.

7.      Not spending enough time with those you love. Once you leave work, you may have more time to spend with friends and family those you love. While still alive, make the effort to stay in touch and spend time with those you love…or even just like.

If you would like to read the complete list, check out the article in US News and World Report.

What would you like to see in The Pensioner: Looking Forward?

Send comments and suggestions to Julie.West@mpers.org.